Smoke and Gas Safety for Older Adults

Why older adults are at higher risk

• Slower escape, with walking aids, wheelchairs, stairs and doors that are hard to open.
• Reduced smell, hearing and vision, so warning signs are missed; see hearing loss home care guide and low vision home safety.
• Memory problems, so cooking or heaters may be left on; see auto-off kettle and stove safety.
• Sleeping heavily or taking sedatives.
• Thin skin, so burns are deeper; see hot water and scald safety for older skin.
• Loose clothing, such as sarees, dupattas and shawls, that can catch fire.
• Smoking in bed, or lighting incense, lamps and candles near fabrics.
• Living alone, so nobody raises the alarm.
• Cluttered homes, blocked exits and old wiring.

Smoke alarms and heat detectors

A smoke alarm gives early warning, usually the difference between escape and tragedy.

• Install smoke alarms in the bedroom or outside the sleeping area, in the corridor and in living rooms. For kitchens, use a heat detector, since cooking smoke triggers false alarms.
• Choose a loud alarm. For people with hearing loss, consider a strobe light, a vibrating pad under the pillow or a linked alarm; see signs of hearing loss in parents.
• Mount on the ceiling, away from corners, vents and the cooking area, according to the maker.
• Test monthly by pressing the test button, and replace batteries on schedule; many alarms have a 10-year sealed battery, but check; see safety device batteries and checks.
• Replace the alarm at the end of its life, usually about ten years.
• Linked or smart alarms can notify a family member's phone if the home is empty, but depend on wifi and power; check the backup.
• Do not remove batteries because of false alarms from cooking; move the alarm or use a heat detector.
• Check the product mark and quality; see spotting fake or poor quality care products.

Gas safety: LPG leaks and carbon monoxide

LPG (the gas in cylinders) is heavier than air and collects near the floor. A leak can explode when a flame or spark is present.

Prevention:

• Turn off the regulator at the cylinder at night and when leaving home.
• Use a certified regulator and hose, and replace hoses before they crack. Check for leaks with soapy water, never with a flame.
• Keep the cylinder upright, in a well-ventilated area, away from heat and electrical sockets.
• Light burners with a lighter, not by letting gas build up first.
• Keep the kitchen ventilated with a window or exhaust fan.
• Never leave cooking unattended.
• Use a gas leak detector, an alarm that senses LPG, placed as the maker advises (usually low, near the stove), tested monthly.
• Schedule regular checks by the gas supplier or a qualified technician.
• Do not store spare cylinders indoors.

If you smell gas:

1. Do not light a flame, do not switch any electrical switch on or off, do not use a phone or lighter in the area. 2. Open doors and windows. 3. Turn off the regulator if safe to do so. 4. Leave the home with everyone, including the person with limited mobility, and move away from the building. 5. Call for help from outside: the gas supplier's emergency number, and 112 if there is danger, fire or explosion risk. 6. Do not return until a qualified person says it is safe.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless, odourless gas from burning fuel with poor ventilation: gas geysers in bathrooms, coal or charcoal braziers (angeethi), kerosene heaters, generators and blocked chimneys. It causes headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and can be fatal, particularly during sleep. In winter, people close windows and light braziers indoors, which is dangerous.

• Never burn charcoal, coal or wood in a closed room.
• Use gas geysers only in well-ventilated spaces, with outside venting; prefer electric geysers in small bathrooms; see safe use of heaters, geysers and fans.
• Never run a generator indoors.
• Install a CO alarm where fuel-burning appliances are used.
• If you suspect CO poisoning, get everyone out into fresh air, call 112 and seek medical help.

Safe cooking, heating and electricity

• Cooking: stay in the kitchen, keep flammables away, use lids for pan fires and never use water on oil; tuck in loose clothing; use a timer; see auto-off kettle and stove safety.
• Heaters: keep at least a metre from beds, curtains and clothes; do not dry clothes on them; switch off when sleeping or leaving; use heaters with tip-over and overheat protection. See safe use of heaters, geysers and fans.
• Electrical safety: do not overload sockets and extension boards; replace frayed cords; avoid using damaged plugs; keep sockets away from water; use a residual current device (RCD) or earth leakage breaker if possible; have old wiring checked by a licensed electrician. See electricity safety tips for elderly and safe use of oxygen and electrical equipment.
• Oxygen: keep oxygen cylinders and concentrators away from flames, incense lamps and cooking; no smoking; see oxygen cylinder safety.
• Lamps, incense and candles: place them on stable, non-flammable surfaces, away from curtains, clothes and shawls; do not leave burning lamps unattended, especially at night; consider electric diyas for those who forget.
• Smoking: never smoke in bed or when drowsy; use deep ashtrays.
• Battery devices: charge on hard surfaces, not on beds or sofas, and use the right charger.
• Clear exits: keep doors and corridors free of clutter.
• Mosquito coils and vaporisers: place away from fabric.

An escape plan that fits the person

Prepare a simple plan and practise it.

1. Know two ways out of each room, if possible: a door and a window, balcony or alternative route. 2. Keep exits clear, with keys easily accessible near the door, not hidden. Do not lock a person in; see lock and door safety for seniors. 3. Plan for mobility: a person who uses a walker or wheelchair needs a clear, wide route. In an upper-floor flat, consider the stairs and the lift. Lifts must not be used in a fire; know the stairs. Ask the building management about evacuation help; see safety in gated societies and apartments. 4. Choose a meeting point outside, known to everyone. 5. Sleep with the bedroom door closed, which slows smoke, and have a phone or alarm within reach. 6. Keep a torch by the bed, plus footwear and a walking aid. 7. In a fire: get out, stay out, and call 112 (the fire service may also be reached on 101). Do not go back for belongings. Crawl low under smoke. Feel doors with the back of the hand before opening; if hot, do not open. 8. If you cannot get out: go to a room with a window, close the door, block the gap at the bottom with a wet cloth, signal from the window and call for help. 9. For someone with dementia: a calm, simple plan, and a carer who knows exactly what to do; see dementia home setup. 10. Practise twice a year, in the day and at night.

If clothes catch fire

Stop, drop and roll, or smother the flames with a blanket. Cool burns with cool running water for about 20 minutes, cover loosely, and seek medical help; see hot water and scald safety for older skin and wound care at home for older adults.

Monthly and yearly checks

• Test smoke, gas and CO alarms monthly, and note the date.
• Inspect hoses, regulators and cylinder seals.
• Check the escape route is clear.
• Check extension cords and plugs.
• Check heaters and geysers before the season.
• Check that fire extinguishers are in date.
• Replace expired detectors.
• Review the plan after any change in mobility or home.

See monthly home safety check.

The limits of devices

Detectors and auto-off devices reduce risk but can fail, run out of battery or be misused. They do not replace safe habits, supervision for those who need it and a practised plan. See home safety for seniors living alone.

When to ask a professional

Ask a licensed electrician to check wiring and a qualified gas technician or your gas distributor to check cylinders, hoses and appliances. Contact the local fire service for advice on fire safety in your building. Ask a doctor if your parent shows confusion about cooking or has breathing problems after exposure to smoke or gas. An occupational therapist can advise on safety for people with limited mobility. For information on services for senior citizens, call Elderline 14567. In a fire, gas leak or any emergency, call 112.